在雅思小作文中,尤其是动态图表(如线图、柱状图)的写作中,描述数据“下降”趋势是核心考点之一,掌握多样化的下降词汇不仅能避免重复,还能更精准地体现数据变化的幅度、速度和语境,从而提升作文的得分档次,以下从不同维度详细解析雅思小作文中的下降词汇及其使用场景。

基础下降词汇:通用与高频
这类词汇适用于大多数下降场景,表达“数量减少”的基本含义,是写作中的基础储备。
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Decrease:最通用的下降词汇,中性客观,可作动词或名词。
- 例句:The number of smokers decreased by 10% from 2010 to 2025.
- 名词用法:There was a decrease in the price of wheat.
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Reduce:强调“使变得更少”,常用于主动语态或被动语态,侧重动作的主动性。
- 例句:The government implemented policies to reduce carbon emissions.
- 被动结构:Production costs were reduced significantly.
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Drop:强调“突然或明显的下降”,口语化色彩较浓,但书面语中也可使用,常与具体数值搭配。
(图片来源网络,侵删)例句:The temperature dropped to -5 degrees overnight.
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Fall:与drop类似,但更侧重“自然或渐进的下降”,适用范围广,可作动词或名词。
- 例句:House prices fell by 15% during the economic crisis.
- 名词用法:There has been a sharp fall in demand.
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Decline:正式用语,强调“持续、长期的下降”,常用于描述趋势、数量或质量的恶化。
例句:The species has declined rapidly due to habitat loss.
(图片来源网络,侵删)
幅度与强度:下降程度的精准表达
根据数据下降的剧烈程度,需选用不同强度的词汇,以体现对数据的敏感度。
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Sharp/Sudden/Drastic Drop/Decrease/Fall:表示“急剧、突然的下降”,幅度大、速度快。
例句:After the pandemic, there was a sharp drop in tourism revenue.
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Steep Decline/Reduction:强调“陡峭式的下降”,常用于描述曲线图中近乎垂直的下跌趋势。
例句:The stock market experienced a steep decline in March 2025.
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Significant/Considerable Decrease:表示“显著、明显的下降”,幅度较大,有统计学意义或实际影响。
例句:There was a significant decrease in the unemployment rate.
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Moderate/Slight Drop/Decline:表示“温和、轻微的下降”,幅度较小,变化平缓。
例句:The temperature showed a slight decline in the afternoon.
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Gradual Slowdown:强调“逐渐减缓的下降”,适用于下降趋势从剧烈转为平缓的场景。
例句:After the initial sharp fall, the rate of inflation slowed down gradually.
速度与趋势:下降过程的动态描述
除了幅度,下降的速度(快慢)和趋势(持续/短暂)也是评分要点,需搭配特定词汇。
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Rapidly/Quickly/Swiftly Decrease:表示“快速下降”,强调时间短、变化快。
例句:Online shopping popularity increased rapidly, while traditional retail sales decreased quickly.
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Gradually/Slowly Decline:表示“逐渐下降”,强调过程缓慢、持续。
例句:The birth rate has been declining slowly over the past three decades.
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Steadily Drop:表示“稳定下降”,指数据匀速减少,无明显波动。
例句:The price of solar panels has dropped steadily since 2025.
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Intermittent Fluctuation with a Downward Trend:复杂场景下的表达,指“间歇性波动但整体呈下降趋势”,适用于数据有起伏但总体向下的情况。
例句:Although the monthly sales fluctuated, the annual data showed a clear downward trend.
语境化下降词汇:避免重复与提升精准度
在图表描述中,需根据数据的具体语境(如原因、结果、对比)选择更贴切的词汇,避免单调重复。
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Plummet/Slump:强调“暴跌、骤降”,常用于描述经济、价格等领域的剧烈负面变化,情感色彩较强。
例句:The company's profits plummeted by 50% after the scandal.
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Dip:表示“小幅暂时的下降”,常用于描述数据在整体趋势中的短暂回落。
例句:Sales dipped slightly in January but recovered in February.
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Wane:原指“(月亮)亏缺”,引申为“逐渐衰落、减弱”,适用于描述影响力、需求等抽象概念的下降。
例句:Public interest in the TV series has begun to wane.
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Ebb:与wane类似,强调“逐渐减少、衰退”,常与tide(潮汐)搭配,比喻力量、数量的消退。
例句:The ebb of traditional industries has led to urban decline.
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Contract:专业术语,多用于经济领域,表示“收缩、缩减”,特指规模、范围或数量的减少。
例句:The manufacturing sector contracted by 2% in the last quarter.
下降词汇的搭配与语法结构
正确搭配副词、介词和从句,能让表达更地道、逻辑更清晰。
- 副词+动词:修饰下降的速度或幅度,如sharply decrease, gradually decline, plummet dramatically.
- 动词+by+数值:明确下降的具体幅度,如decrease by 20%, drop from 100 to 80.
- 动词+to+数值:强调下降后的结果,如fall to 50%, reduce to a record low.
- 名词+in+名词:名词化结构,如a decline in population, a reduction in costs.
- 比较级结构:体现对比,如decrease more rapidly than..., fall less significantly than...
常见错误与注意事项
- 避免绝对化:除非数据明确归零,否则慎用“disappear”“vanish”等词,可用“approach zero”代替。
- 区分“下降”与“负增长”:“负增长”是专业术语,特指增长率小于零(如从5%降至3%),而“下降”指绝对值减少(如从100降至80),不可混用。
- 注意时态一致性:描述过去数据用过去时,预测未来趋势用将来时或情态动词(may, is projected to)。
相关问答FAQs
Q1: 在雅思小作文中,如何选择“下降”词汇才能避免重复且显得专业?
A: 首先根据下降的幅度(如sharp, slight)、速度(如rapidly, gradually)和语境(如经济数据用plummet/contract,抽象趋势用wane/ebb)初步筛选词汇;其次结合句式变化,交替使用动词(decrease, decline)、名词(a drop, a reduction)及不同搭配(by/to, in);最后避免在一句话中重复使用同类词汇,例如可将“The number decreased sharply”改为“A sharp decline was observed in the number”。
Q2: 当数据既有下降又有波动时,如何用“下降”词汇准确描述整体趋势?
A: 若数据波动但整体呈下降趋势,可采用“总体+局部”的结构:先说明整体趋势(如“show a general downward trend”),再用“despite fluctuations”“with occasional short-term increases”等从句补充波动细节,最后用“eventually declined to...”强调最终结果。“Despite minor fluctuations in the first half of the year, the sales volume showed a general downward trend, eventually declining to 500 units by December.”
